Carbonating apparatus



' April 20, 1937.

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April 20, 1937. H. K. PAINTER CARBONATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1935 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Hum-3: K?

03.11. INVLNTOK MM ATTORNLZfi Patented Apr. 20, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE Application January 6,

Glaims.

This invention relates to the art of preparing drinks, and isparticularly directed to apparatus for carbonating a liquid.

It is the object of this invention to provide an 5 improved apparatus ofthis character wherein a liquid level is maintained in a carbonatedliquid supply tank and carbonic gas is constantly admitted thereto, inwhich apparatus a control means is incorporated causing agitation of thewater and gas whenever water is introduced into the tank resulting inefficient automatic impregnation of the incoming liquid with gas aswithdrawals of carbonated liquid occur. a

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embcdiment of the invention,I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, corresponding substantially tothe line 22 of Figures 1 and 3,-

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View, corresponding substantially tothe line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, front elevational view, disclosing'means for actuating the valve control means and agitating means,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line 5-5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line B6 of Figure 3, disclosing asafety valve,

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view, disclosinga control means embodied in this invention,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectionalview,corresponding substantially-to the line 8-8 of Figure '7,

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line 99 of Figure 3, showing theapparatus in one operative position,

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line 99 of Figure 3, showing theapparatus in another operative position,

Figure 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line H-ll of Figure 10,

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, correspondingsubstantially to the line l2-l2 of Figure 10,

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary, vertical sectional view,corresponding substantially to the line I3I3 of Figure 3,

55 Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical sectional view,

1933, Serial No. 650,449

corresponding substantially to the line l4-l4 of Figure l,

Figure 15 is a vertical sectional view, correspondingsubstantially tothe line |5-l5 of Figure 14, while Figure 16 is a perspective view of acheck valve embodied in the invention. The embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed comprises a rectangular base frame ill supported at itscorners upon legs ii. The frame ill supports a cabinet it having sidewalls l3 and it, a rear wall it, a front wall l6, and a cover llprovided with a handle i8. The cover ii is hinged, as at it, to the rearwall l5. Disposed about the upper inner periphery of the cabinet it? isa member 28 from which is suspended a rectangular metal ice-box 2i,spaced from the walls of the cabinet 92, and between the walls of theice-box 2i and the walls of the cabinet i2 is disposed insulatingmaterial 22 of cork, or the like, insulating the walls of the cabinet l2from the ice-box 2i, and the cover i l is similarly insulated therefrom.An adjustable supporting member 23 is mounted on the bottom of thecabinet l2 and supports the cabinet H2 at its bottom midsection. I

An aperture is provided in the bottom of the cabinet 12 for a conduit 24leading from a source of water supply, connected to an elbow 25 threadedto a conduit 26 which extends in close proximity to the bottom 2?? ofthe ice-box 2i and to 0 the rear wall 28 of a carbonatcr tank 29 mountedon the bottom 2i, for a purpose hereinafter described. The conduit 26extends for several lengths, as indicated at 30, between the front wall3i of the carbonator tank 29 and the front wall 32 of the ice-box 2i,and then extends upwardly adjacent the end Wall 33 of the carbonatortank 29, terminating in an elbow 34 threaded to a reduced conduit 35Which extends downwardly in a coil, as indicated at 36, between the rearWall St of the carbonator tank 29 and the rear wall 38 of the ice-box2i, and thence upwardly and transversely above the cover 39 of thecarbonator tank 29, terminating ina valve casing fill. The conduits asarranged provide a lengthy passage for the water prior to its use, andthe water is cooled to a low temperature by covering the conduit coil 36with cracked ice or the like.

The valve casing 40 (see Figure 4) is supported by a bracket 4| mountedon the cover 39 and comprises a reduced port 42 (see Figure 14)communicating at one end with the conduit 35 and at the opposite endwith a valve chamber 43, which communicates with a chamber 44 through areduced port 45, provided by a valve seat 48 engageable with a valve 41threaded to the inner end of a reciprocating valve stem 48 extendingthrough a gland nut 49 threaded in the valve 5 casing 48. 'Disposedabout the valve stem 48 is a packing member 58 secured by a nut 5| tothe gland nut 49 and valve stem 48. A conduit 52 has one end threaded tothe valve casing, 48 and communicates with the chamber 44, and theopposite end thereof is threaded into one end of a sleeve 58 having areduced port 54. The other end of the sleeve 58 has, a reduced portion55 frictionally embraced by a soft rubber valve 58 having a slottedcollapsible opening 58a, which permits fluid to pass therethrough fromthe conduit 52, but automatically prevents back-flow of fiuid into theconduit 52'and its connected conduit members.

A coupling 51 is screw-threaded to the sleeve 53 and embraces the oneway valve 56 in spaced relation, forming a chamber 58 thereabout, andthe coupling 51 is'provided with a reduced port 58 which communicateswith a conduit 88 threaded into the other end of the coupling 51, andthe conduit 88 in turn communicates with the upper portion of anagitator paddle housing 8i mounted on the cover 39 of the carbonatortank 29 and communicating with the interior of the carbonator tank 29,thereby providing conduit means 30 traversing considerable distance withrespect to the area of the ice-box 2I to convey water from the source ofsupply to the carbonator tank 29.

A carbonic gas conduit 82 (see Figure 7) has one end connected to thesource of carbonic gas supply, not shown, and the other end 88terminating in the carbonator tank 29 adjacent the bottom thereofbeneath the agitator paddle housing 8|. A pressure valve (not shown) forregulating the pressure from the carbonic gas supply is set to deliver aconstant fiow of gas at a predetermined pressure; and a gas check-valve84 is inserted in the gas conduit 82 to prevent back-flow of gas fromthe carbonator tank 29 and permit entrance of the gas into the carbonator tank 29.

Integral with the agitator paddle housing 8| is a flange 85 enclosing aboss 88, and the flange 85 is closed by a cover plate 81, thus providinga gear box 88 adapted. to be filled with oil or grease. Journaled in theboss 88 is a shaft 88 carrying at one end an agitator paddle 18 securedthereto by a pin II. The agitator paddle I8 is adapted to rotate withinthe housing 8| and is provided with vanes 12 curved at their free ends,as at I8. Fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 89, bya pin I4, is aworm-gear I5 adapted to mesh with a worm-wheel I8 secured to themidsection of a shaft 11 which extends through opposite sides of theflange 85. when rotative movement is imparted to the shaft 89, theagitator paddle 18 is rotated, and the curved vanes I2 agitate the waterand carbonic gas in the carbonator tank 29, causing the carbonic gas topermeate the water, producing a carbonated water suitable for mixturewith fiav orlng syrups or for use unadulterated.

Water traversing the water conduit means herein described is co'oled toa low temperature before entering the carbonator tank 29 and prior tocoming into contact with the carbonic gas. I find that with my method ofpreparing carbonated water by cooling the water prior to mixing with thecarbonic gas and then agitating the water and gas in a cold state, thata larger amount of gas can be absorbed by the cold water than if thewater were mixed at normal temperature with the gas; furthermore, thegas is more completely absorbed by the cold water, thereby retaining thecharacteristics of carbonic gas in the water for a longer period oftime, than is obtained in the conventional method of carbonating water.

One end of the shaft I1 is adjustably secured within one end of asleeve-I9 (see Figure 14) by means of a screw 88, and the sleeve 18 isrotatably mounted within a cup-shaped member 8|, of a fly-wheelconstruction 82. Secured to the flanged extremity of the cup-shapedmember 8|, by means of screws 88, is a member 84, having a projectingboss inwardly threaded as at 88, adapted to receive the threaded end 81of the sleeve I8, and provided with a pin 88 extending transverselytherefrom into the cup portion of the member 8|. The pin 88 is adaptedto engage a stud 89 secured to the member 84.

Adjacent the threaded portion 88in the boss 85 is secured an outer ballrace 98, and an inner ball race 9I is secured to the end of "the valvestem 48 by a nut 92. Interposed between the races 98 and 9| are balls 98providing a ball bearing arrangement which permit the fly-wheel 82 torotate freely about the sleeve I8 and the valve stem 48, and preventlinear movement of the fly-wheel 82 along the valve stem 48. The outerend of the boss 85 is closed by a plate 94 detachably secured to theboss 85 by screws 95.

When the shaft 11 is rotated to the left, as viewed in Figure 14, thesleeve I9 also rotates to the left, but the fly-wheel 82 does notrotate, due to its inertia. However, the threaded movement of the sleeveI9 in the fly-wheel 82 causes linear movement of the fiy-wheel 82 to theleft, which in turn moves the valve stem 48 to the left and opens thevalve 41, permitting additional water to enter the carbonator tank 29.The threading movement of the sleeve I9 to the left is limited by thepin 88 abutting the opposite side ofthe stud 88, as shown in brokenlines in Figure 15, at which time the fiy-wheel' 82 is positivelyengaged and rotates to the left with the sleeve I9. When the shaft IIceases to rotate the fiy-wheel 82 continues to rotate, due to itsinertia, and threads the fiy-wheel 82 on to the sleeve I8, causinglinear movement of the fly-wheel 82 to the right, which movement islimited by the pin 88 abutting the stud 88, as shown in solid lines inFigure 15. This latter threaded advancement to the right, as viewed inFigure 14, is suflicient to pull the valve stem 48 to the right andclose the valve 41, preventing water from flowing to the carbonator tank28.

A motor 98 is mounted on a platform 81 and the shaft 88 of the motor 98is connected to the end of the shaft 11. When the motor 88 is operating,it imparts rotative movement to the shaft 11 which in turn actuates theagitator paddle I8 and the valve stem 48, as hereinbefore described. 1

An electrical circuit I88, not completely shown, includes a mercuryswitch IN, or other suitable switch means, enclosed in a sealedcompartment I82 fixed to the end wall 28 of the carbonator tank 28. Theswitch IN is provided with a lever arm I88 pivotally mounted, at aboutits mldsection, on the end wall 28, and the lever arm I88 has at one endfingers I84, securing a sealed glass' tube I85 carrying at one endelectrodes I88. In the tube I85 is a quantity of mercury which makes orbreaks the circuit through the electrodes I88, depending upon theinclination of the tube I and the resultant location of the mer cury,either in or out of contact with the electrodes I06. The opposite end ofthe lever arm I03 is provided with an elongated slot I01 in '5 which isinserted one end I08 of a float rod I09 pivotally secured, as at IIO.This arm extends through a slot I I I in the wall 28 of the carbonatortank 29 and carries at its other end a float II2 adapted to be moved ina vertical arcuate line by the carbonated water in the carbonator tank29. The cover 39 of the carbonator tank, 29 has an upwardly bulgedportion I I3 to accommodate the float H2. The bulged portion H3 isprovided with an inwardly threaded boss I I4 for the re ception of asafety valve I I5. This valve includes a valve casing II6, a valve .seatIn, a valve H8, outlets H9, and an adjustable pressure spring I20,permitting the valve II8 to be unseated at a predetermined gas pressurewithin the carbonator tank 29.

The level of the water in the carbonator tank 29 controls the movementof the float I I2. When the carbonated water supply is depleted to apredetermined level, the float rod I09 automatically 5 actuates theswitch lever arm I03 which is moved upwardly, as shown in broken linesin Figure 8, and the mercury tube I05 is inclined to contact positionwith the electrodes I06 to close the circuit, causing the motor 96tooperate and rotate the agitator paddle I0 and to open the valve 41 topermit additional water to enter the carbonator tank 29 andsimultaneously agitate the incoming water with the incoming carbonic gasto produce carbonated water at a predetermined pressure. When theelevation of the carbonated water in the carbonator tank 29 hasincreased to a predetermined height, the float H2 and rod I09automatically move the mercury tube I03 to the oppositely inclinedposition, to break the circuit and cause the motor 96 to cease itsoperations, and the agitator paddle I0 its rotation, and to close thevalve 41, cutting off additional flow of water into the carbonator tank29.

A tubular member i2l (see Figures 9 and 10) has one end I22 threadedinto the front wall 86 of the carbonator tank 29 and is secured insealing relation therewith by a gasket and nut connection, as indicatedat I23, and the other end I24 of the tubular member I2I is provided withan annular flange 525 which abuts the inner surface of the front wall 32of the ice-box 2i, and is secured thereto by a nut i271 threaded ontothe end 824 of the tubular member i726.

, The tubular member has an outwardly tapered inner surface adapted tofrictionally embrace a corresponding tapered inner end I28 of a faucetM9. The tapered end I28 is partially closed by an integral partitionhaving a plurality of annularly arranged apertures I30 which surround acentral aperture I3I. The apertures E30 communicate with an enlargedchamber 532 of the faucet I29 which communicates with 9. dependingdischarge nozzle I33. The forward end portion of the faucet I29 isprovided with a chamber [134 closed at its outer end by a detachable cap035 threaded into the faucet I29. The chamber M4 is closed at its innerend by a partition wall use having an aperture I31, for a purposehereinafter described. Extending through the chamber 834 is'afpin I38journaled in diametrically disposed lugs I39. The pin I38 is rigidlyaffixed, by means of a screw I40, to the bifurcated arms I4I of a faucethandle I42, and secured to the pin l38, within the chamber I34, by ascrew I43, is a cam 7 I44, adapted to engage, when the faucethandle I42is manipulated, a disk I45 threaded to one end of a valve rod I46slidably mounted in the apertures I31 and I3I. r

The opposite end of the valve rod I46 is slidably mounted in a partitionwall I41 disposed short of the end I48 of the tubular member I2I. Thevalve rod I46 extends into the carbonator tank 29 and is adapted toengage a valve 30I provided with a valve disk I49 mounted on a plunger300 having a stud I50 slidable within a recess I5I of a valve cap I52threaded to the extreme end I48 of the tubular member I2I. The valve 30Iis yieldably mounted by means of a spring I53 interposed between thevalve cap I52 and the plunger 300. The valve cap I52 is provided withannularly arranged ports I54, and the partition wall i4! is providedwith ports I55 to establish communication between the interior of thecarbonator tank 29 and the interior I56 of the tubular member I28. Theflow of carbonated water from the carbonator tank 29 is controlled bythe faucet handle M2, which when rotated downwardly moves the valve rod6 inwardly to open the ports 654 and permit the flow of carbonated waterthrough the ports I55 and I30 and thence from the discharge nozzle I33.

The tubular member i2! has a flat surface, as at 860, to support acylinder ii, of predetermined capacity, having a tapered port l62,adapted to serve as a valve seat alined with an aperture l63 irr thefiat surface 560. Secured within the alined apertures 862 and i163 is avalve cage 364, its lower end partially closed by a spider member i65adapted to support a spring 200 which yieldably supports a ball valveM51 in sealing engagement with the valve seat 962.

Reciprocally mounted within the cylinder 161i is a piston 868 having aport I69 extending therethrough, one end of which is partially closed bya spider member (I10, and the other end of which is provided with avalve seat iii adapted to be engaged by a ball valve i712 yieldablysupported by a spring Hi3 interposed between the ball valve H2 and thespider member H9. The ends of the piston 568 are provided with packingmembers H4 and H5, and washers H6 and ill. The packing member HM andwasher 516 have openings that are alined with the port 59, and aresecured to one face of the piston 968 between a shouldered portion of apiston rod H9 which has one end threaded into the piston M9. we pistonrod ilii extends through a stuifing box H9 carried by a head I189secured to the forward end of the cylinder i6l. The outer end of thepiston rod H8 is pivotally connected, as at I8I, to a link i82 pivotallysecured to the faucet handle 2, as at H83. The packing M5 and washer iiiare also provided with openings that are alined with the port 669. Theseelements are secured to the opposite face or" the piston it? by a screwi199 threaded thereinto.

The cylinder list is closed at its rear end by a head l85 having anoutwardly and upwardly extending projection 596 provided with an angularbore 881? communicating with the cylinder MI. The lower end of the boreI 8i, is provided with a valve seat E89 for t ball valve i90 yieldablyheld in position by a spring i9I removably secured by a spider memberI92 afflxed at the inner end of the bore I91. The outer end of theborei8! is outwardly and upwardly tapered to frictionally accommodate acorrespondingly tapered flexible member l93 secured to a nipple 594abutting against the bottom-of a syrup container I95 and secured theretoby "acollar I96. The

syrup container I95 is supported in the bore I01,

and is easily removed from the cabinet I 2 by lifting it upwardly fromthe bore I81. Additional syrup may be added to the container I95 by re-5 moving a detachable plug I91.

In operation, assuming that the apparatus is in the position as shown inFigure 9, and the cylinder I5I has not been supplied with flavoringsyrup from the syrup container I 95, the faucet l0 handle I42 is rotatedforwardly, which movement unseats the valve I90 and causes the elementsassociated therewith to assume the position as shown in Figure 10,creating a partial vacuum in the cylinder IGI, causing syrup to flowfrom the container I95 into the rear part of the cylinder I5I. Thefaucet handle I42 is then rotated to its original and normal position,as indicated in Figure 9, which movement seats the valve I90 andprevents further discharge of syrup from the container I95, and unseatsthe valve I12, permitting the charge of syrup in the rear of thecylinder I5I to flow through the port I59 and the piston I50 to thefront end of the cylinder I6I, where the syrup is held by the valve I61.The

faucet handle I42 is again rotated downwardly and the piston I58 movedforwardly, which movement seats the valve I12 to prevent further flow ofsyrup therepast, but unseats the valve I61, forcing the'charge of syrupin the front end of the cylinder I50 into the mixing chamber I55. Eachrearward movement of the faucet handle I42 thereafter forces a newcharge of syrup from the container I95, into the forward portion of thecylinder I5I, so that only one downward movement is necessary to forcethe new charge of syrup into the mixing chamber I56. During the forwardmovement of the faucet handle I42, the carbonator valve IN is unseatedby the cam I44 and valve rod I46, to permit the'carbonated 40 water topass through the small apertures I55 under pressure exerted by thecarbonic gas contained in the carbonated water and the gas above thewater in the tank 29, into the mixing chamber I55, whereby the charge ofsyrup is intimately mixed under pressure of the gas with the carbonatedwater and forced through the apertures I20, and thence forced throughthe discharge nomle I22 in the form of a beverage already prepared forconsumption.

The dispensing apparatus thus described requires but a forward andrearward movement of the faucet handle I42 to dispense a carbonatedflavored beverage. The charges of syrup from the cylinder I6I can bealtered by inserting cylinders of various capacities.

' It is apparent that one or more dispensing and mixing units can beused in connection with the same cabinet, and carbonating tank. I haveshown in this embodiment of my invention three dispensing and mixingunits 200, 20I and 202 in addition to the dispensing and mixing unithereinbefore described, and the units 200, 2III, and 202 are constructedidentically and operate identically with the unit heretofore described.05' I have also made provision for dispensing unadulterated carbonatedwater directly from the carbonator tank 20. The mechanism employed inthat connection comprises a dispensing unit 202 having a faucet 204disposed between the 70 units 200 and 20I and threaded to the front wallof the cabinet I2, and is providedwith a suitable valve 220 operated inthe usual manner by a'faucet handle 205. The faucet 204 has a reducedoutlet 206 in a depending nozzle 201 75 which communicates with anenlarged channel 200, terminating in a pipe 205 having one end threadedto the end of the faucet 204 and the other end terminating within thecarbonator tank 29 in direct communication with the carbonated watertherein. The inner end of the faucet 204 is secured to the inner surfaceof the front wall of the ice-box 2I by a gasket and nut arrangement asindicated at 2I0. The inner end of the pipe 208 is secured to thecarbonator tank 29 by a gasket and nut arrangement as shown at 2i I.

When the faucet handle 205 is moved forwardly, the carbonated water isdispensed with considerable force through the reduced outlet 205, theforce of the ejection being sufiicient to disintegrate ice-cream, and tocompletely mix flavored syrups with the carbonated water. A tray 2i 2 issecured to the frame I0, to support glasses, or the like, during thedispensing operations.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodimentherein disclosed accomplishes at least the principal object of theinvention, that it has uses and advantages other than those hereinparticularly referred to, and that various changes and'modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention, andaccordingly the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative onlyand theinvention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising: a containercommunicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means for mixingsaid liquid and gas to impregnate said liquid with said gas; valve meansfor controlling the flow of said liquid; and a valve actuating elementdriven by said mixing means and having an inertia member connected withsaid valve means, movable with said actuating element when the latter ismoving and shiftable relative to said actuating element when the lattercomes to rest to operate said valve means.

2. A device of the character described, comprising: a containercommunicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means disposed insaid container for agitating said liquid and gas, mixing said gas andliquid, impregnating said liquid with said gas; and valve means forcontrolling the flow of said liquid to said container; actuating meansfor operating said valve and agitating means; said valve means and saidagitating means being interconnected with said actuating means, wherebysaid valve is opened when said agitator means is operated.

3. A device of the character described, comprising: a containercommunicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means for mixingsaid liquid and gas, impregnating said liquid with said gas; valve meansfor controlling the flow of said liquid; and means for actuating thevalve and driving the mixing means, including a single direction rotaryelement and a translatable element carrying the valve actuated by the'rotary element for effecting both opening and closing movements of saidvalve means.

4. A device of the character described, comprising: a containercommunicable with a liquid supply and a gas supply; means for mixingsaid liquid and gas, impregnating said liquid with said gas: valve meansreciprocably operable to control the flow of said liquid; and means foractuating the valve and driving the mixing means including a rotaryelement engaging said reciprocal valve means, said rotary elementmovable in one direction to effect reciprocatory movement of said valvemeans.

5. An apparatus of the class described, com= raising, a containercommunicable with a -sulpply of water under pressure and a carbonic gassupply under pressure, an agitator for mixing the water and. gas in saidcontainer, 9. power means for driving said agitator, a control de-

